Plan the perfect day in Kyoto
VIP Extras
Concierge Services
Casual restaurant recommendations and bookings: although I haven't tried every restaurant in Kyoto, it one perks of the job to do the research! Once the sightseeing course and optional activities are decided, I will share my restaurant recommendations link and you can tell us what you are up for. Note, we don't always book lunches as some restaurants don't take lunch reservations and it does make the plan more flexible on the day.
Top End restaurant reservations: we have partnered with some local restaurant wizards who have access to very high end restaurants that often need to be booked well in advance. More information will be shared once we receive the answers to your questionnaire.
Reservations for events, fun activities and cultural experiences: Kyoto has so much to offer in this department that it's hard to choose. One thing we recommend though is to try to be selective and choose only one or two things in one day as we want to maximize the time you spend with your guide getting the most out of visits to gardens, temples and other places of cultural and historic importance. We can book a tea ceremony, meditation practice, pottery making class, taiko drum class or craft workshop for you to enjoy that day or we can just focus on showing you some of our favourite gardens and temples.
Reservations for spa or massage: we can even set you up for an afternoon at a spa or massage centre for the ultimate way to wind down at the end of the tour.
Logistics support: we can help you arrange a transfer to and from the airport, tickets for the bullet train or even escort services from the platform to your hotel and vice versa in both Kyoto and Tokyo.
Casual restaurant recommendations and bookings: although I haven't tried every restaurant in Kyoto, it one perks of the job to do the research! Once the sightseeing course and optional activities are decided, I will share my restaurant recommendations link and you can tell us what you are up for. Note, we don't always book lunches as some restaurants don't take lunch reservations and it does make the plan more flexible on the day.
Top End restaurant reservations: we have partnered with some local restaurant wizards who have access to very high end restaurants that often need to be booked well in advance. More information will be shared once we receive the answers to your questionnaire.
Reservations for events, fun activities and cultural experiences: Kyoto has so much to offer in this department that it's hard to choose. One thing we recommend though is to try to be selective and choose only one or two things in one day as we want to maximize the time you spend with your guide getting the most out of visits to gardens, temples and other places of cultural and historic importance. We can book a tea ceremony, meditation practice, pottery making class, taiko drum class or craft workshop for you to enjoy that day or we can just focus on showing you some of our favourite gardens and temples.
Reservations for spa or massage: we can even set you up for an afternoon at a spa or massage centre for the ultimate way to wind down at the end of the tour.
Logistics support: we can help you arrange a transfer to and from the airport, tickets for the bullet train or even escort services from the platform to your hotel and vice versa in both Kyoto and Tokyo.
Fun options on the ground
Sagano Romantic Train (Arashiyama): hop aboard the classic steam engine train and wind through some beautiful valleys and see the beautiful scenery. This is an open car train so this is not a great option in winter but is a nice way to rest the legs after a lot of walking. Take a return trip on the same train or even choose a river boat ride back to Arashiyama or a regular JR train back to the city. Cost: 620 adults 310 for kids (6-11)
Hozu River Rapids boat ride (Kameoka/Arashiyama): great in combination with the Sagano Romantic train, or take a regular train to hop on the boat and take the 2hr ride down river to Arashiyama village. This is a fun and thrilling ride but is only good when the weather is pleasant even if they do have covered boats for wet days. Takes about 2hrs so maybe not ideal if you want to fit more into the day. Great for resting tired legs though. Cost: 4,100 adults 2,700 for kids (4-12)
Rickshaw ride (Arashiyama, East side of Kyoto): this is a fun way to see the city from a different perspective and you can choose do a 30-90min course but we generally recommend the shorter one to make the most of your day. It one of the coolest ways to see the bamboo grove too! Cost: 5000-15000 per person
Sagano Romantic Train (Arashiyama): hop aboard the classic steam engine train and wind through some beautiful valleys and see the beautiful scenery. This is an open car train so this is not a great option in winter but is a nice way to rest the legs after a lot of walking. Take a return trip on the same train or even choose a river boat ride back to Arashiyama or a regular JR train back to the city. Cost: 620 adults 310 for kids (6-11)
Hozu River Rapids boat ride (Kameoka/Arashiyama): great in combination with the Sagano Romantic train, or take a regular train to hop on the boat and take the 2hr ride down river to Arashiyama village. This is a fun and thrilling ride but is only good when the weather is pleasant even if they do have covered boats for wet days. Takes about 2hrs so maybe not ideal if you want to fit more into the day. Great for resting tired legs though. Cost: 4,100 adults 2,700 for kids (4-12)
Rickshaw ride (Arashiyama, East side of Kyoto): this is a fun way to see the city from a different perspective and you can choose do a 30-90min course but we generally recommend the shorter one to make the most of your day. It one of the coolest ways to see the bamboo grove too! Cost: 5000-15000 per person
Cultural Activities
Taiko Drum classes from 13,000yen/person
Try your skills on the taiko drums with this fun lesson. You can learn how to play the drums and you even get a good workout from it too. This is especially fun for teenagers https://www.taiko-center.co.jp/english/class/kyoto-class.html
Pottery making class from 3,000yen/person
There are a few options for this experience and it can be a lot of fun. We can try our hand at making a cup or bowl and then once we are done they will put it aside to be fired in the kiln. And if you want, then have a service where they can ship it to your home country or to an address in Japan where you will be staying before you go.
Samurai Sword Lesson at a real samurai house from 18,000/person
Get an introduction to the soul of the samurai with not only a display of expert swordsmanship but also a chance to try your hand at it yourself! After practicing with wooden swords, you get to try the real thing. After receiving a step by step lesson you can actually practice slicing a swords through rolled up tatami mats which are designed to mimic the same thickness and density of a human arm! A truly fun experience but definitely not one to do after a sake tasting!! http://waraku-kyoto.com/kyoto_samurai_experience/
Kimono dress up and photo shoot from 5,000-30,000/person
The Japanese are always endeared to see people from overseas try on their traditional clothes and what better way to take in the sights than in a real kimono! We can have your guide take photos of you with an iPhone or we can also arrange a professional photographer to get some photos to last a lifetime! There is a big range in pricing for kimonos so please indicate if you prefer an upper end kimono or if you aren’t too fused and just want something fun for the photos.
Private Tea Ceremony in a 300 year old house with optional sake or whiskey tasting from 8,000/person
This is a special experience and can be great for all ages. It is a beautiful house and the hosts are a married couple who speak perfect English. They also know how to cater to those who are experiencing a tea ceremony for the first time. They go over all the steps involved before you enter the special tea room and then you get a full explanation from the tea master. After that you have the option to add a sake tasting or whiskey tasting at their counter bar which is all under the same roof. http://samurai-house.jp/index.html
Zen Meditation and tea ceremony in a monk’s home from 40,000/group
For those looking for a more authentic and exclusive experience, we can (based on limited availability) arrange a special tea ceremony and zen meditation session at a monk’s home. This is suited more for those who are looking for a more spiritual experience and as such it’s not as family friendly as other options which are more suited to first time visitors to a tea house. www.passiojapan.com/zen-meditation.html
Kimono up cycling workshop from 40,000/group including a take home bag
This is a super cool way to make something special to bring home and treasure for years to come. We teach you a bit about the kimono making culture in Kyoto, take a trip to a local shop to find some vintage fabrics, then start on making a travel pouch or bum bag from scratch. And if we run out of time, we have the option to let your guide finish the piece for you and have it shipped to your home. www.mikanbags.com/
Ninja Dojo from 9,900/person
Lots of fun for families with younger kids, this Ninja Dojo is a place where you can learn how to walk like a ninja, practice blow darts and ninja star throwing and more. ninjadojoandstore.com/
The Kyoto VIP Geisha Experience from 120,000/group
For the ultimate chance to not only be immersed in the local culture but a chance to be a true patron of the arts, we are blessed to be able to have connections at several tea houses (member’s only bars) and can offer a range of options for the opportunity to meet a real geisha or apprentice “Maiko”. Choose between a tea ceremony in the afternoon, or after dinner drinks in a real teahouse setting with tatami floor, or even drinks at a classy bar where you can even sing karaoke with the girls too!
Try your skills on the taiko drums with this fun lesson. You can learn how to play the drums and you even get a good workout from it too. This is especially fun for teenagers https://www.taiko-center.co.jp/english/class/kyoto-class.html
Pottery making class from 3,000yen/person
There are a few options for this experience and it can be a lot of fun. We can try our hand at making a cup or bowl and then once we are done they will put it aside to be fired in the kiln. And if you want, then have a service where they can ship it to your home country or to an address in Japan where you will be staying before you go.
Samurai Sword Lesson at a real samurai house from 18,000/person
Get an introduction to the soul of the samurai with not only a display of expert swordsmanship but also a chance to try your hand at it yourself! After practicing with wooden swords, you get to try the real thing. After receiving a step by step lesson you can actually practice slicing a swords through rolled up tatami mats which are designed to mimic the same thickness and density of a human arm! A truly fun experience but definitely not one to do after a sake tasting!! http://waraku-kyoto.com/kyoto_samurai_experience/
Kimono dress up and photo shoot from 5,000-30,000/person
The Japanese are always endeared to see people from overseas try on their traditional clothes and what better way to take in the sights than in a real kimono! We can have your guide take photos of you with an iPhone or we can also arrange a professional photographer to get some photos to last a lifetime! There is a big range in pricing for kimonos so please indicate if you prefer an upper end kimono or if you aren’t too fused and just want something fun for the photos.
Private Tea Ceremony in a 300 year old house with optional sake or whiskey tasting from 8,000/person
This is a special experience and can be great for all ages. It is a beautiful house and the hosts are a married couple who speak perfect English. They also know how to cater to those who are experiencing a tea ceremony for the first time. They go over all the steps involved before you enter the special tea room and then you get a full explanation from the tea master. After that you have the option to add a sake tasting or whiskey tasting at their counter bar which is all under the same roof. http://samurai-house.jp/index.html
Zen Meditation and tea ceremony in a monk’s home from 40,000/group
For those looking for a more authentic and exclusive experience, we can (based on limited availability) arrange a special tea ceremony and zen meditation session at a monk’s home. This is suited more for those who are looking for a more spiritual experience and as such it’s not as family friendly as other options which are more suited to first time visitors to a tea house. www.passiojapan.com/zen-meditation.html
Kimono up cycling workshop from 40,000/group including a take home bag
This is a super cool way to make something special to bring home and treasure for years to come. We teach you a bit about the kimono making culture in Kyoto, take a trip to a local shop to find some vintage fabrics, then start on making a travel pouch or bum bag from scratch. And if we run out of time, we have the option to let your guide finish the piece for you and have it shipped to your home. www.mikanbags.com/
Ninja Dojo from 9,900/person
Lots of fun for families with younger kids, this Ninja Dojo is a place where you can learn how to walk like a ninja, practice blow darts and ninja star throwing and more. ninjadojoandstore.com/
The Kyoto VIP Geisha Experience from 120,000/group
For the ultimate chance to not only be immersed in the local culture but a chance to be a true patron of the arts, we are blessed to be able to have connections at several tea houses (member’s only bars) and can offer a range of options for the opportunity to meet a real geisha or apprentice “Maiko”. Choose between a tea ceremony in the afternoon, or after dinner drinks in a real teahouse setting with tatami floor, or even drinks at a classy bar where you can even sing karaoke with the girls too!
Sightseeing courses
We love showing you our favourite gardens and places of historic and cultural importance. Luckily Kyoto is almost like an open air museum and has so much to offer. Let us know in the questionnaire what type of traveller you are but note that we can go anywhere you like that day, but we don't want to spend half the day travelling from place to place. We are also happy to help you plan the days before or after your tour once we set the itinerary for the day we have together so you can really get the most out of your time here. See some of our suggested routes and sample itineraries.